Clasp for wrist-watch bracelets and the like



latented Non, 9, 1926.`

tllliil'l STATES JACK J. rnrsnnrnnn, or BROOKLYN, NEW Yoan.

CLASP FOR WRIST-WATCH BRACELETS AND III-IE LIKE.

Application led March 13, 1926.

This invention relates to clasps of the type adapt-ed to secure a bracelet about the wrist of the wearer or necklace about the neck of the wearer. ln fact, it relates generally to a clasp adapted to join the severed ends of any band or part, the ends of which are to be secured together under conditions of tension.

The object of the invention is to provide for the clasping of two joining ends of any tension member in such a way that two partsl of the clasp may be brought together in a position of minimum tension of the parts to be joined and by a simple relative movement transverse to the line of tension be caused to increase the tension or draw the said parts together a substantial amount and at the same time lock the clasp in closed or clasping position.

MTo this end, in carrying out my invention, l' propose the employment of two parts, a body part and a take-up part each adapted to be secured to the terminal end of a tension member and with the take-up part having a nose lirst to be engaged with the body part on the side edgef thereof and under conditions of minimum tension, and I provide means whereby a simple relative transverse movement betweenV said parts in the nature of a cam and cam-follower tightens the parts to be clasped, eifects the closing of the clasp and the locking of the same 1n closed position.

The above together with further objects and details of my invention will better be understood by reference to the embodiments of my invention to which my claim is directed, solely for purposes of illustration, and which embodiments are described in the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof.

ln the "drawings: n

Fig. 1 is a front plan elevation of the two parts of my clasp with parts broken away partly in section and with the parts thereof shown rst in starting engagement and 1n dot and dash lines in locked engagement;

F ig. 2 is an end or edge view of my clasp partly in section; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modification.

My clasp preferably comprises two parts, a body part A. and a take-upl part B, each part being provided with suitable means such as the .eyes 1 and 2 for securing the tension members such as the strings of beads Serial No. 94,545.

as may go to make up a wrist-watch braceornamental metal shell having a back plate 8 and a front plate l boxed in by the edge wall 5 and the edge wall 6. The other two walls 7 and 8, however, function otherwise;

than as mere boxing walls. The wall 7 is preferably merely an inturned lip extending from the front wall 4 towards the back wall s 8 to form a cam-follower and retaining wall but leaving the free entrance slot 9.

ln its important function the edge wall 8 provides merely the locking lip 10, although in Fig. 2 it is shown extending over towards the rear wall 3 except for an entranceway, or slot 11 corresponding in size with the slot 9. The slot 11 is unlatched at the bottom to form the notch 12 of a size to pass the camway 18. However, in F ig. 8, this end or edge wall 8 is limited to the locking lip 10 so that the entire edge opening 11 is availablefor the entrance of the nose 15 of the camway 18. For some pur-V poses, this may be preferable to prevent tumbling in the closing of the clasp.

IThe take-up part B in addition to the nose 15 comprises in its camway the permanent stress resisting member 16 which to-- gether with the interconnecting part 13 complete the camway. Extending out beyond is the web 17 which is of a thickness and in such location asto pass freely through the slot 9. Extending out from the nose 15 is a resilient arm 18 of cross-section similar to the web 17. This arm is provided with a locking notch 20 into which the lip 10 takes to lock the part B to the part A. Fingen nail engageable ears 21 and 22 are provided as a ready means of springing` t-he resilient arm 18 to release the parts. Overbending of the arm 18 is prevented positively by means of a post 28 extending up from the web 17 towards the elbow of arm 2&1, so that its end 25 serves as a stop to limit the releasing movement of arm 18.

In its operation the operation of my clasp is ready, despite the fact that bracelets necessitate for their application a one-handed operation by the intending wearer, my clasp is responsive primarily on account of the fact that the initial engagement between the parts A and B may be effected when the parts of the clasp are in an out position occasioning little or no tension in the bracelet or similar construction. For example7 in F ig. l, the nose l5 is thrust into the body part A over the lip 7. lt is guided in the desired transverse direction between the back wall 3 and the front wall a, and in one embodimentby the notch l2, although the tension of the bracelet may render the provision of this notch l2 unnecessary. A finger pressure upon edge wall 6 and the outer edges of the ears 2l and 22 is suiticient to etlect a transverse closing movement ot the two parts l of my clasp so that the camway l5, 13, and 16 rides up on the lip 7 drawing the fastening devices l and 2 closer to'each other7 tightening the bracelet, and at the same time closing he clasp into the position shown in dot and dash lines for part B in Fig. l. In this position7 the locking lip engages in the notch 2O with a snap action locking the parts together against accidental disengagement although the stress from the tension of the bracelet is resisted by the part 16 riding on the lip 7 and little or no stress is applied between the notch and the lip 2O and l0, although this notch and lip are eliective in preventing any rocking of the two main parts A and B in their engaged position.

The inventive thought may have a variety oi expressions as is contemplated in what l claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent as follows:

l. A self-tightening clasp for bracelets and the like comprising a Vbody part and a take-up part respectively adapted to be secured to the tension ends ot a bracelet or the like; means on said body part permitting transverse entrance thereinto by said take-up part and preventing relative movement between said parts at right-angles to said transverse movement; and cooperating relatively slidable cam and cam-follower means respectively associated with said parts said cam means having an incline whereby said transverse movement between said parts au tomatically ellects atake-up movement oiC a substantial amount between said parts in the plane oie said transverse movement and at right-angles to said transverse movement.

2. A self-tightening clasp comprising a body part and a take-up part respectively adapted to be secured to the severed tension ends of a` `member to be clasped and tightened; terminal connectors respectively on said body part and said take-up part to be secured to the ends of said member; means a formed respectively on said body part and said take-np part for engaging said parts toget-her in relatively open position and cooperating inclined cam and cam follower means formed on said parts responsive to a transverse pressure upon the engaged two L .v parts of said clasp to eftect a two-directional movement between said parts relatively to each other, one direction of said movement being a transverse movement into registration, and the other movement being at rightangles to said transverse movement to ellect an approach towards one another of said terminal connectors whereby a take-up or tightening functioning is had.

3. A clasp for bracelets and the like comprising a body part and a take-up part; said body part comprising a fiat sheet metal box with an opening at one end; terminal connector means along one edge oit said box; the other edge of said boi; being formed by a lip leaving a slot between the edge of said lip and the edge of said box; said take-up part havinganose adapted to enter the opening ot said body part and engage said lip in relatively open position for the parts ot said clasp; said take-up part having terminal connector means spaced apart from said nose; and an inclined camway extending from said nose laterally and out towards said terminal connector means and adapted to impart an approach between said terminal connector means in response to a relative transverse torce imparted toi said body part and said take-up part respectively, and whereby said force etlects between said parts a relative transverse approach into registration, and in addition a relative approach at ri ght-angles to said transverse approach.

et. The structure as defined in claim 3 and further characterized by the fact that a releasable latch is provided to hold the body part and the take up part in closed relation.

5. A bracelet clasp comprising a thin hollow box-like body part having a terminal edge wall provided with bracelet attaching means, a front and a back joined by said terminal edge wall, means to prevent the spread ing out of the edges of said front and back opposite said terminal edge wall and a lip inturned from one of said edges ot said front and back opposite said terminal edge wall, said lip forming a transverse slideway and leaving a slot between said edges along the edge ot said inturned lip; and a take-up part to be seated in said body part having an elongated thickened member to ride on said inturned lip into said body-part and' 0f a cross-section too great to pass through said slot, a terminal web extending ont from said thickened member and having terminal means for attaching it to a bracelet and of a thinness to pass out through said slot.

6. A bracelet clasp comprising a thin, hollow box-like body part having a terminal edgewall provided with bracelet attaching means, a. front and a back joined by said terminal edge wall, means to prevent the spreading out oit the edges ot said front and back opposite said terminal edge wall and a lip inturned trom one of said edges of said front and back opposite said terminal edge wall, said lip forming a transverse slideway and leaving a slot between said edges along the edge of said inturned lip; and a take-up part to be seated in said body part, having an elongated thickened member to ride on said inturned lip into said body-part and 0i a cross section too great to pass through said slot, a terminal Web extending out from said thickened member and having terminal means for attaching it to a bracelet and of a thinness to pass out through said slot, a resilient arm spaced from said thickened member, means for attaching one end of said arm to said thickened member, latching decnt means mutually provided on the free end of said resilient arm and said terminal edge Wall for locking said parts together, finger engageable means provided on the free end of said resilient arm and the adjacent end of said thickened member Jfor operating said arm and engaging said parts, and a stop post means cooperating between the free end of said resilient arm and the adjacent end of said thickened member to limit the bending of said resilient arm.

In Witness whereof, have signed my name to this specification this 12th day of March, 1926.

JACK J. FELSENFELD. 

